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Home , Bill Easley, Bill Mobley, Donald Brown (musician), Essiet Essiet, Henry Threadgill, Jay Hoggard

INTERVIEW

music and cognition with Dr. Psyche Loui, professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at Wesleyan. Creativity and improvisation figure highly in my view of

t i s cultivating a healthy spirit. I am interested in restoring r a

emotional qualities that connect music to health. t h e TNYCJR: What are your views on health and how are

o f PHEEROAN these incorporated into your music and your teaching? t e s y PA: I swim and eat healthy food and encourage c o u r students to do so. I focus on a student’s gait and help o them develop a command of their aura. I don’t always tell them what I am doing. p h o t / akLAFF (CONTINUED ON PAGE 50) h i g a S

e i k o K by anders griffen Music Now! At the BrooklyN coMMoNs Drummer/composer Pheeroan akLaff was born Paul Maddox science became tenable complements to music for me. thursDAy, MAy 31st, 2018 $15 in Detroit in 1955. Before moving to New York in the ‘70s he lived briefly in New Haven, where he established lasting TNYCJR: Tell us about Brother Ad and Sister Akua, 7pM: rAMsey AMeeN-VioliN / Joel FreeDMAN-cello relationships and received the name Pheeroan akLaff. He has perhaps how you came to change your name and what hill GreeNe-BAss / rAs Moshe BurNett-teNor sAx led his own ensembles and worked with , Andrew influence they continue to have on your life and music? chArles DowNs-DruMs Hill, , , , 8pM: DANiel cArter-reeDs , , , Reggie PA: Ad Theotis Holland, Yale Divinity School circa rAs Moshe BurNett-soprANo sAx & Flute Workman, and many others. For over 20 1972, Egyptologist, and Akua Audrey Ficklin, Unity DAViD First-GuitAr, electroNics years he has been teaching privately at Wesleyan University. minister and Astrologer. Both were clairvoyant and DAVe solDier-VioliN / DAVe Miller-DruMs In 2006 he co-founded Seed Artists through which he has sort of adopted me and gave me a moniker. It stuck. 9pM: DANiel cArter-reeDs / Joe riGBy-reeDs mentored youth and produced musical events focused on They could see that I was directionless with good MAtt lAVelle-truMpet, BAss clAriNet building community and engagement with the arts. intentions, with the potential to become significant or MArk heNNeN-piANo / lArry rolAND-BAss to explode. They were friends with Charles Stepney, chArles DowNs-DruMs The Record: Tell us about those Verdine and Maurice White and others with spiritual rAs Moshe BurNett-teNor & Alto sAx seminal years in New Haven. I’ve heard you say that intent in their music and they hoped the best for me. the BrooklyN coMMoNs there was “magic in the air” and “a 1970s feel that Much of my career life was predicted by them. 388 AtlANtic AVeNue (BetweeN hoyt AND BoND) cannot be described when it came to a reverence in B, M, Q, r, 2, 3, 4, 5 trAiNs to AtlANtic / thecoMMoNsBrooklyN.orG music.” Will you elucidate? TNYCJR: What is your ongoing study of or approach to philosophy and/or spirituality? Pheeroan akLaff: The ethos of Alice and had permeated the drive of many musicians in the PA: I study humans through their patterns of mistakes liberating African-American cultural milieu. and discussions of miracles, but I also study their Meditation was the new turn-on, abstract expression destruction and the building of walls with their ideas. was the new tune-in and dropping out became lifting There are more pleasant studies like poetry. Philosophy off. I experienced Santana, John McLaughlin and has been more infused in my life from an Eastern Khalid Yasin [né Larry Young] with Billy Cobham; perspective. A synthesis of Zen and reducing Sun Ra Arkestra with drummer Francisco Ali Mora; experience to its purest form. Several processes inform converting to macrobiotic eating; Strata my spiritual meditation. Ethics and Aesthetics are East: Stanley Cowell and friends and Strata West: increasingly more important than Logic and Reason. Kenny Cox and Friends; Yusef Lateef introducing world music compositions. These experiences made TNYCJR: What is prayer? Or, how do you pray? me want to get involved with ensembles that expressed a holistic approach to music. Many creative people PA: My doctor was asked by one of his assistants “Why acted upon the collective conscience in their search for do you pray for your patients?” When greeted by meaning and their desire to change mindsets and someone from India, they may briefly put their hands paradigms. In 1975 I decided to go to New Haven with in a praying position while approaching you. You my friend Dwight Andrews and start a band. I wanted might notice a person in Japan sharply dip their head to meet Rashied Ali and possibly play music in New when entering a space occupied by others. Those in York. Because Dwight was working in the African touch with courtesies of Islam or African continental American Studies department at Yale I managed to reverent gestures may touch their heart when greeting meet Professor Robert Farris Thompson and audit his or saying goodbye. These are just a few acts of human African Art class. Department founder Charles T. Davis motion toward recognizing the divine in our midst and [pianist ’ father] was a conduit for it is prayer. If we see God in every molecule and several great minds there and an encouraging father especially in the obstructions the human form presents, figure to many young musicians. Professor Thompson, we develop the sensitivity to modify our space. That is John Blassingame, Henry Louis Gates, Irene Jackson- prayer for me. I believe in prayer for healing. I also Brown, Toni Nathaniel Harp, George Edwards of the pray for healing of all sorts when I play music. Black Panther Party and many people who had either studied at Yale or experienced the trial of Bobby Seale TNYCJR: Your Wesleyan faculty page mentions, were influencing the vibe of how our band made among other things, “physiological attunement”. What music. Some of the best friends and music associates does this mean and how is it fostered? that I still have today were there: Wadada Leo Smith, Mark Helias, , Bobby Naughton, Mixashawn PA: I encourage music to be developed as active and Rick Rozie, Mario Pavone, Jane Ira Bloom, David meditation with welcoming confidence, receptivity Lopato, Joe Celli, Jarawa Brian Gray, , Nat and concentration. When students are out of shape, Adderley, Jr. and many that I am probably forgetting to physically and otherwise, playing drums can promote mention. At the time, DejaVu was more than a cool humor, joy and remission of lethargy. My protocols name for a band. It was a family of people with shared borrow from many kinesthetic maintenance techniques. principles. It happened at a time when myth and I have also recently enjoyed exploring creativity in

6 MAY 2018 | THE NEW YORK CITY JAZZ RECORD (INTERVIEW CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6) ended up sounding in a way that would astound us. (LABEL CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11) I’d love to hear an interview with Art Tatum just to TNYCJR: Please tell us more about Seed Artists? know what he was trying to make happen beyond Bill and Donald. In 1996, I was recording Donald for demonstrating how hard he worked to expand the the album Enchanté!, with Steve Nelson, , PA: Seed Artists is a small non-profit that thinks big. many embellishments with overwhelming facility. , and the French trumpeter We got our first grant from the Elisabeth Irwin High Drumming has always represented an exploration into Stéphane Belmondo. I always try to understand what School to take students to sing at hospice centers and a stratified environment generated by memory and the musicians are doing and suggest tunes and special community gardens. Now we are a catalyst for service shaping ideas until they deserve to be reconstituted or guests to make combinations. When we did the to our community by promoting daring music, youth abandoned. Trance is also important, which is different recording of with literacy and community arts for all ages. Chris than just using one or two of these elements. The [Moodscape, 2007, a quartet session completed by Napierala, our Creative Director, has worked very beating oneself into a frenzy like at a disco era of the ], I think that was not Bill’s hard in the last few years to bring great music to ‘80s is now seeping its way into jazz and so it makes first choice, but I like having someone of another Montclair. We even have jazz listening night in the me a little sensitive as to just how I want to hear the generation bringing something different. Montclair Public library hosted by professor Peter percussion world. Some reverie brings on the worst The same way we did Donald’s Born To Be Blue, Bodge, who prompts discussions with several swanky and some brings out the best. It’s part of what makes I invited two young drummers, one of his sons, seniors. Our library concerts have been great outreach percussion so powerful. Kenneth, and Marcus Gilmore, which brings something for bringing people together. The list is long, but Sheila different to the vibe. People like Donald or Bill have an Jordan, Richard Davis, Cyro Baptista, Oscar Noriega TNYCJR: A recent academic publication in the open mind. That’s how I see the role of the producer, to and several great artists have enriched our community. discourse on jazz education compares what they call suggest or bring something a little different. I don’t We had brilliant book talks with authors David “street level education” with current curricula and have to explain to them what to do. I worked two times Greenstein and William Parker at the New York argues, I believe, that jazz education programs are with Buddy Montgomery. I recorded several CDs but Buddhist Church. We have contributed to Community missing the “street level” part. only released one [Buddy Montgomery All Star Group, Real Talk with ex-offenders, the police department and A Love Affair In Paris, 2000] because Buddy was a little community groups. We are best known though for the PA: “Street” sort of reduces that side of the equation to sick, but the music was extraordinary. I wish I could Eric Dolphy Freedom of Sound Celebration, in which how we think of something in contrast to university find some time with and Donald, I know we featured over 40 musicians to commemorate the settings. “Street” can imply a lot of things. In the last exactly what to do to put it out. The tunes Buddy wrote 50th anniversary [2014] of his untimely passing. The few decades “street” is a code word for having a nose and the way he organized the music, he was a master.” symposium included Eric Dolphy’s friends Richard for skullduggery, emphasized by a colloquial When asked about issuing historical recordings, Davis, Gunther Schuller and Grachan Moncur III and vocabulary tone. But to actually learn by assembling Felgeyrolles explained, “I’m open to do it. I have a younger scholars , John Szwed and parts of the nuggets of wisdom acquired from as many recording of Illinois Jacquet with George Duvivier and Michael Veal. We performed his known and unheard beacons as you can meet...that’s a good street. The best Hank Jones, but Black & Blue has already done compositions, later to be inducted into the Library of of black music for me is not empty riffing or overstating something similar [Blues from N.O. (Live)]. I have an Congress. Since then we have partnered with William the forlorn. I like the simplicity of absorbing the most unreleased project by and an Paterson University, The National Jazz Museum of from least. There’s a famous song that Totó La unreleased concert of James Williams with Billy Pierce, Harlem, The Jazz Foundation of America and the Momposina of Colombia sings called “Dolores has a Mickey Roker and . I need to talk 73 See Gallery in Montclair. On May 11th we will piano”. The whole song is about Dolores having a with ’s widow. I have a concert with his surprise middle school children during class time with piano and therefore having a massive influence on trio plus and . When a concert by pianist Angelica Sanchez. On Jul. 7th, we their quaint society. It’s a visual example of African I try to issue this type of recording, the main thing is to will co-present Randy Weston African Rhythms quartet diaspora adaptation at the turn of the 19th century. pay the expenses. If people will buy them, it’s okay with the Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning in Some stuff doesn’t come up in jazz education. What’s with me.” Queens. This summer we will have concerts at the important in all this is remembering the connection to Space Time artists are generous in their assessment Montclair Public Library and the first weekend of the music that has healed communities, not to just be of Felgeyrolles’ contributions. Mobley remarked, October we will have our first Millennium of Percussion one who toots their horn! I’ve been fortunate enough “It has been great working with Xavier over so many Sound Celebration festival in Montclair. We intend for to be associated with huge mentors and made music years and getting his feedback and input regarding my you to get involved with a wide range of music for with people who have advanced a lot of good things: projects. I feel very thankful he has given people like body and soul regeneration. Andrew Hill, Sonny Sharrock, Amiri Baraka, Cecil me, , Donald Brown and others like Taylor and many ancestors who commandeered life Essiet Essiet and Keith Brown the opportunity to TNYCJR: So it’s not all jazz. with a great amount of depth and perseverance. My record and get our music out there. Being connected situation is unique and I appreciate the amount of with the great Donald Brown gave me the introduction PA: It’s almost never jazz to me, or I should say not inner strength that I developed from working with to Xavier Felgeyrolles. I only regret that Xavier is so far jazz only. One of the distinctions I like to make is jazz many important trailblazers. got me away in France and cannot work his magic so easily the music and jazz the culture. One of the reasons I got my first jam session gig in Harlem and, 20 years after here in the States to hook up all his great artists with involved with music was because of jazz the cultural that, a seminal record with titled My Dear more work in the States.” ethos, which may be found in several areas of life, as Family. Geri Allen helped me score parts from my Brown is no less enthusiastic with his praise: well as a music we butcher words to describe. Its crude etchings for my first ensemble CD, Sonogram. “We met when my album Early Bird was out and Xavier impact upon the world has represented the greatest John Szwed produced several concerts for our Double contacted to book me for his absolving music of an era of cruelty. Not only have we Duo band [Rashied Ali, , Mixashawn] at festival. He became my number one fan. I consider him educated, or mis-educated, a generation to emphasize . I’m still learning so much from to be one of my closest friends. He has been invaluable virtuosity but we’ve also mis-educated the public to our rich musical environment. v to my life on so many levels. That’s carried on to my think that this interaction of performance and applause kids; he has recorded them. He makes sure my records is something that is going to benefit both parties. Jazz For more information, visit pheeroanaklaff.com. akLaff is at are played around the world and doesn’t let me fall by the music inspired a cumbersome educated virtuosity. The Stone at The New School May 4th, solo at Issue Project the wayside. When I had health issues, he was working Jazz the culture inspired social activism. The matrix Room May 5th and Rubin Museum May 18th as part of Jog with me to record. He has had great ideas and provided that these two areas should be used to comprise do not Blues. See Calendar. direction. He wanted me to reinvent myself as well, work so much in tandem today. There is an applause suggesting a duo record. Everyone in my household button on one and a pause button on the other. Recommended Listening: knows him and loves him to death. He has been a • (Wadada) Leo Smith New Dalta Ahkri— driving force.” v TNYCJR: What were you saying about virtuosity? Kanto Pri Homaro (Song of Humanity) (Kabell, 1976) For more information, visit spacetimerecords.com. Artists PA: In some cases we’re mis-educating jazz players to • Oliver Lake Quartet—Clevont Fitzhubert (A Good performing this month include at Jazz think that to be a virtuoso on their instrument is the Friend of Mine) (Black Saint, 1981) Standard May 1st-6th; Essiet Essiet at Smoke May key part of their development. But virtuosity alone • Air (Henry Threadgill// 11th-13th with Eddie Henderson, The 75 Club at Bogardus cannot help us explore the tender, the frail or the Pheeroan akLaff)- New Air: Live at Montreal Jazz Mansion May 18th-19th with Steve Williams and James process of selflessness leading to the majestic. Think Festival (Black Saint, 1983) Weidman and Zinc Bar May 21st and 28th, the latter with Chick Webb, George Russell or the accompaniment • Pheeroan akLaff—Sonogram (MUWORKS, 1989) Strings Attached; Eric Harland at The Jazz Gallery May range of Freddie Waits or Paul Motian. Perhaps some • Yosuke Yamashita—Ways of Time (Verve, 1994) 18th-19th; Ali Jackson at Rose Theater May 18th-19th with great ones were looking for something that went • Wadada Leo Smith Golden Quintet— the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra; and at beyond the physical experience and in so doing they America’s National Parks (Cuneiform, 2016) Fat Cat May 9th and Smalls May 16th. See Calendar.

50 MAY 2018 | THE NEW YORK CITY JAZZ RECORD